History

The Railroad in Patagonia

"... President (of the Argentina Nation) Jose Figueroa Alcorta expressed, in his first Message when opening the sessions of the Argentine Congress (1906), his preoccupation by the lack of economic
development of the national territories. Then he prepared a program of action for the morning. Objectives, to take to population and industries. Aim, To impel the progress of regions that, in the future,
would get to transform themselves into Argentine provinces.

"With the same object it is in study the plan of construction of a railroad that dividing of Port San Antonio, happens through Valcheta and it arrives at the Lake Nahuel Huapi, and another line from Rivadavia to Valley of October in the skirt of the $andes, passing by the colonies 16 Sarmiento and San Martín, with a branch from first to the Buenos Aires lake; works all that would be paid for widely with the product of the sale of the fiscal earth, that will be to valorize, and without burdening in the minimum of the national treasure, that before would increase in great proportions ".

Thus then, Law 5559, the 28 of August of 1908, had the construction of the Railroad Port San Antonio to the Lake Nahuel Huapi, in the Territory of the Negro River.

The wide trail for a simple reason was adopted. Because the patagónico railroad "shortly will have to league together with the networks of the Sud and the Pacific"... ".

Note: According to account the chronicle, single in the first year of execution of the work advanced 120 km... Product of a labor day of three (3) turns of eight (8) hours each one.

All a feat!

"year 1922 was starting point to deal with to expand the railwaynetwork (...) the railroad arrived at Carmen de Patagones 1° May from 1922. Simultaneously, the construction of the branch is arranged that
one to C. De Patagones with San Antonio.

"That the construction of this branch will first of all come to replace the present lack of communications in which is Viedma, capital of the Territory of the Negro River, also completing the network of the Railroads of the State, binding it to the port of White Bay what will facilitate the movement of import and the export of an important and rich zone proposing to the unfolding and social economic progress of a part of the republic".

The 18 of January of 1924 the service of trains of tourism to San Carlos de Bariloche is inaugurated, locality to which above the train for the first time in 1934. The trip from Buenos Aires to White Bay
and soon Carmen de Patagones was made in fast train, that left twice per week, and counted on hungry car and stateroom. In boats trasbordaba to the passengers through the Negro River, arriving itself
at Viedma. With the inauguration of the bridge ferro wagon unio Viedma with Carmen de Patagones, leaving itself communicated Buenos Aires with San Carlos de Bariloche by means of this railway service.